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8 Under-$20 Kitchen Stocking Stuffers That Aren't a Waste of Drawer Space

Mini whisks, tea infusers, and more.

By
An Uong
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An Uong is a writer specializing in kitchen product reviews at Serious Eats.

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Published December 12, 2024 12:00PM EST
A green y-peeler on a green cutting board surrounded by potato skins and a peeled potato to the side of it

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

It’s not unheard of for stocking stuffers to outshine even the biggest present under the tree, especially if they’re useful space-saving kitchen tools. So if you’re scrambling to find little kitchen gifts with big impact, look no further. We rounded up some of our favorite small but mighty kitchen tools that are on sale for under $20, like this $9 Danish dough whisk, $5 vegetable peeler, and more.

The Best Last-Minute Stocking Stuffers Under $20

Zulay Kitchen Dough Whisk

Zulay Kitchen 13-Inch Danish Dough Whisk

Amazon

For the bakers in your life who are always trying out new gadgets, this Danish dough whisk is one of our favorites. Half wooden spoon, half balloon whisk, it thoroughly mixes even the stiffest doughs and batters. It’s only $9 and will slot right into a stocking.

A dough whisk on a white countertop

Serious Eats / Andrew Janjigian

Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler

Kuhn Rikon, Black Original Swiss Peeler

Amazon

Nerdy? Yes. Useful? Absolutely. We love Y-peelers and the Kuhn Rikon is the best vegetable peeler we’ve tested. It quickly peels potatoes yet can shave delicate lemon peels. At only $5, you may want to grab a few for the whole family.

A green vegetable peeler on a grey surface

Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

Crafthouse by Fortessa Signature Collection Bar Spoon

Crafthouse by Fortessa Professional Metal Barware/Bar Tools

Amazon

If you know a mixologist who takes special care in selecting the best tools for their craft, look no further than this elegant bar spoon that has a spiral handle and weighted end. It can mix, muddle, and break up ice.

a stainless steel bar spoon on a marble surface

Serious Eats / Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm

Kuhn Rikon 6-Inch Balloon Wire Whisk

Kuhn Rikon 6-Inch Balloon Wire Whisk

Amazon

Every kitchen needs a mini whisk. For small batches of scrambled eggs or salad dressing, the Kuhn Rikon is adept at emulsifying and provides a comfortable grip with its slightly longer handle.

a mini whisk emulsifying a vinaigrette dressing in a ceramic bowl

Serious Eats / Jesse Raub

Zeppoli Classic Dish Towels

Zeppoli Classic Dish Towels

Amazon

Now, while this 15-pack of dish towels isn’t technically under $20, the individual towels are only about $2 apiece. This means you instantly have a stocking stuffer for everyone, plus a few left over for yourself. These towels have an impressive 140% absorption rate and come in a wide range of colors.

A person holding onto a Dutch oven's handles with a kitchen towel and placing it onto a countertop.

Serious Eats / Henry Wortock

Mercer Culinary Stainless Steel Plating Spoon

Mercer Culinary 18-8 Stainless Steel Plating Spoon with Solid Bowl

Amazon

We all have that friend who’s trying to fine-tune their plating at meal times. To help them achieve the food presentation of their dreams, you can get them a sauce spoon, which we love to use for swooshing sauce onto a plate, basting steaks in a pan, or stirring sauce in a saucepan.

spoon spectrum: soup spoon, sauce spoon, ladle, and serving spoon on a white and pink marble backdrop

Serious Eats / Grace Kelly

Teapigs Liquorice & Peppermint, 15-Pack

Teapigs Liquorice & Peppermint

Amazon

One of our favorite teas, this licorice and peppermint blend from Teapigs is comforting yet fun and comes recommended by not just one, but two of our staff members.

Teapigs Liquorice & Peppermint Tea

Serious Eats / Kevin Liang

Fenshine Stainless Steel Tea Infuser

Fenshine Tea Infuser Stainless Steel Tea Strainer Folding Handle Tea

Amazon

No one likes it when stray tea leaves escape a poorly secured tea infuser. There’s no need to worry about that with our favorite tea infuser, which has a basket design for easy loading and a fine metal mesh that keeps tea leaves in place.

a look at a tea strainer set on a mug of tea

Serious Eats / Abigail Clarkin

Your questions, answered

  • What other kitchen-related gifts should I consider this season?

    Great question! We have various gift guides for you to peruse, including ones for bakers, grilling enthusiasts, burgeoning cooks, and more.

  • What are the best gift subscriptions I could give this season?

    We’ve spent years testing food-related subscriptions and have rounded up the best ones for cheese, wine, coffee, and more.

Why We’re the Experts

  • An Uong is a writer for Serious Eats.
  • An loves stocking stuffers and sometimes spends more time picking them out than she does choosing actual gifts for people.

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